Day four of the 2025 European Aquatics Championships continued with another busy morning for Irish swimmers including a standout swim from Grace Davison in the 100m Freestyle, ensuring she will join John Shortt (200m Backstroke Final) in action this evening.
Davison was the first Irish swimmer to race on Friday morning in Samorin, competing in the 100m Freestyle. The Paris Olympian got the day started in blistering fashion, winning her heat, and advancing second overall to the semi-final with a time of 55.35, just .26 shy of her lifetime best.
Speaking in the mixed zone, Davison said: “I’m really happy, it’s really nice to go that time, it’s my fastest time this year by at least half of a second and I feel like I’ve got a lot of room for improvement for tonight. The 200m Freestyle was bittersweet, it was my first personal best for over a year, I was so happy but to narrowly miss out on the final, it hurts a little, but it’s given me more time to rest. I think we can see the freestyle event is so much more competitive than last year, so it’s spurring me on.”
The Ards swimmer, who is competing at her fourth European Junior Championships added: “This is my fourth (European Junior) championships, and I know for a lot of the team this year, it’s their first year, so I feel a bit of responsibility as I’m here with the most times. The team has been so good, a few of the younger guys will come and speak to me if they’re struggling, so that’s nice to know they trust me. Usually, I’m the youngest one so I understand what that’s like, even in Paris I was the youngest by a long way and the girls helped me so much, so they’ve kind of passed on that role to me, which is nice.”
Davison, who is the 2024 European Junior bronze medalist in this event will return to the blocks tonight for the semi-final due to get underway at 5:06pm (Irish time).
For the first time this week and Irish relay team headed to the blocks for the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay. A youthful quartet consisting of Adeline Cloutier, Niamh Connery, Luca Power, and Matthew Hamilton clocked a combined time of 4:03.30.
Tonight, will see Grace Davison and John Shortt return to the pool for the 100m Freestyle Semi-Final and 200m Backstroke Final, respectively.